Best Cities For When You’re In an Emergency

Best Cities For When You’re In an Emergency

Where America's first responders are ultra-swift.

By
Alex Daniel

If you were ever to be involved in an accident, chances are there are two words you’d prefer to use to describe your local emergency response team: fast and furious. But whether due to manpower, geography, road and weather conditions, or several other factors, some cities just are faster than others when it comes to getting to an emergency and taking action. We’ve compiled the swiftest of them all right here—so click on to see if your city is among the safest in the nation. And for more in-depth city rankings, be sure to read about The 50 Hardest Working Cities in the U.S.

OUR METHODOLOGY:

To find out which cities perform fastest in emergencies, we pulled samples of the 200 largest metropolitan areas from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which tracks data on all vehicle crashes in the United States that occur on a public roadway and involve a fatality (and which note the time emergency medical services were notified and responded to the crash). We also gathered state-level info from Healthgrove, which distilled information from a Medicare survey of more than 4,000 hospitals to find out how each state performs once emergency patients arrive at the hospital. Lastly, we looked at how many emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were working in each city, per the U.S. Census.

50

Aurora, CO

Population: 361,710
Average Response Time (minutes): 6.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 37.32
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 15
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 44
Emergency Response Score: 9.59

Here’s some food for thought: would this ranking be the same if we had flying cars instead of ambulances?

49

Hampton, VA

Population: 135,410
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.80
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 22.15
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 144
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 45
Emergency Response Score: 12.53

48

Warren, MI

Population: 135,125
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 33.30
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 137
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 22
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 52
Emergency Response Score: 14.60

47

Grand Prairie, TX

Population: 190,682
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.60
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 7.87
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 15.48

46

Las Vegas, NV

Population: 632,912
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.60
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 65.57
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 156
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 23
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 15.77

45

Columbus, OH

Population: 860,090
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.50
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 26.74
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 134
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 19
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 52
Emergency Response Score: 17.08

44

Killeen, TX

Population: 143,400
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.40
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 10.46
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 18.44

43

Anchorage, AK

Population: 298,192
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.40
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 25
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 52
Emergency Response Score: 18.46

42

Tulsa, OK

Population: 403,090
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 54.58
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 114
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 18.74

41

Austin,TX

Population: 947,890
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 41.67
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 19.06

40

West Valley City, UT

Population: 136,574
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 21.97
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 129
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 16
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 42
Emergency Response Score: 19.58

39

Amarillo, TX

Population: 199,582
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 32.57
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 19.63

38

Philadelphia, PA

Population: 1,567,872
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 66.97
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 24
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 57
Emergency Response Score: 19.64

37

Salem, OR

Population: 167,419
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 35.84
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 145
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 31
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 59
Emergency Response Score: 19.65

36

Arlington, TX

Population: 392,772
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 30.55
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 24.65

35

Salt Lake City, UT

Population: 193,744
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 51.61
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 129
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 16
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 42
Emergency Response Score: 24.66

34

Portland, OR

Population: 639,863
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 29.69
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 145
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 31
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 59
Emergency Response Score: 24.67

33

Huntsville, AL

Population: 193,079
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 41.43
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 133
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 30
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 63
Emergency Response Score: 24.71

32

Eugene, OR

Population: 166,575
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 45.02
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 145
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 31
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 59
Emergency Response Score: 24.73

31

Colorado Springs, CO

Population: 465,101
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 91.38
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 15
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 44
Emergency Response Score: 24.74

30

Baton Rouge, LA

Population: 227,715
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 48.31
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 125
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 22
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 24.74

29

Henderson, NV

Population: 292,969
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 34.13
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 156
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 23
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 24.75

28

Boise, ID

Population: 223,154
Average Response Time (minutes): 5.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 78.42
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 127
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 48
Emergency Response Score: 24.89

27

Boston, MA

Population: 673,184
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 30.45
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 165
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 38
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 55
Emergency Response Score: 29.69

26

Saint Paul, MN

Population: 302,398
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 14.88
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 108
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 20
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 44
Emergency Response Score: 29. 70

25

Tucson, AZ

Population: 530,706
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 64.07
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 174
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 28
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 29.75

24

Oklahoma City, OK

Population: 638,367
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 57.96
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 114
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 29.82

23

Midland, TX

Population: 134,610
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 48.29
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 29.95

22

Lakewood, CO

Population: 154,393
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 32.38
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 15
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 44
Emergency Response Score: 30.02

21

Greensboro, NC

Population: 287,027
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.60
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 19.16
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 152
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 30
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 56
Emergency Response Score: 30.64

20

Plano, TX

Population: 286,057
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.60
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 92.64
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 31.00

19

Thornton, CO

Population: 136,703
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.40
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 36.58
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 15
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 44
Emergency Response Score: 33.74

18

Des Moines, IA

Population: 215,472
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: –
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 117
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 22
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 45
Emergency Response Score: 34.57

17

Olathe, KS

Population: 135,473
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 62.74
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 112
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 18
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 46
Emergency Response Score: 34.88

16

North Las Vegas, NV

Population: 238,702
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.20
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 67.03
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 156
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 23
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 36.92

15

Phoenix, AZ

Population: 1,615,017
Average Response Time (minutes): 4.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 29.41
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 174
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 28
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 39.75

14

Springfield, MA

Population: 154,074
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.75
Number of EMTs per 100k People: –
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 165
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 38
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 55
Emergency Response Score: 43.38

13

Raleigh, NC

Population: 458,880
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 19.61
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 152
Averag e to Evaluation Time (minutes): 30
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 56
Emergency Response Score: 44.73

12

New Orleans, LA

Population: 391,495
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 31.93
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 125
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 22
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 44.79

11

Gilbert, AZ

Population: 237,133
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: –
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 174
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 28
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 44.90

10

Fort Collins, CO

Population: 164,207
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 66.99
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 15
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 44
Emergency Response Score: 44.97

9

Grand Rapids, MI

Population: 196,445
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 22.91
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 137
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 22
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 52
Emergency Response Score: 45.54

8

Savannah, GA

Population: 146,763
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.60
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 13.63
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 146
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 31
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 59
Emergency Response Score: 45.71

7

Syracuse, NY

Population: 143,378
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 10.46
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 169
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 22
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 5
Emergency Response Score: 49.72

6

Glendale, AZ

Population: 245,895
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 32.53
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 174
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 28
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 49.83

5

Rochester, NY

Population: 208,880
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 69.42
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 169
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 22
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 59
Emergency Response Score: 55.05

4

Cincinnati, OH

Population: 298,800
Average Response Time (minutes): 3.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 18.41
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 134
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 19
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 52
Emergency Response Score: 59.39

3

Mesa, AZ

Population: 484,587
Average Response Time (minutes): 2.67
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 21.67
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 174
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 28
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 53
Emergency Response Score: 59.84

2

Little Rock, AR

Population: 198,541
Average Response Time (minutes): 2.33
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 30.22
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 127
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 25
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 62
Emergency Response Score: 64.92

1

McKinney, TX

Population: 172,298
Average Response Time (minutes): 2.00
Number of EMTs per 100k People: 20.31
Average Arrival to Departure Time (minutes): 135
Average Arrival to Evaluation Time (minutes): 21
Average Time Before Patients With Broken Bones Receive Pain Meds (minutes): 54
Emergency Response Score: 69.90